Traffic signal plumbing apparatus



Nov. 18, 1969 N, E RYALL 3,478,994

TRAFFIC SIGNAL PLUMBING APPARATUS Filed 000. 6, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

INVENTOR.

IVE/L 5. M)

2/ M BY 15" 1 7M4W4Wm Nov. 18, 1969 N. E. RYALL 3,478,994

TRAFFIC SIGNAL PLUMBING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 6, 1967 .2 Sheets-Sheet :2

FIETE' 5/ I INVENTOR.

IVE/L E. 25 614 6 Z ZE W United States Patent 3,478,994 TRAFFIC SIGNALPLUMBING APPARATUS Neil E. Ryall, 3208 Florida Ave. S., Minneapolis,Minn. 55426 Filed Oct. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 673,514 Int. Cl. G09f 9/34 US.Cl. 248-276 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A signal unit mountingassembly that mounts signal units is mounted on a mast arm assembly on astandard with adjacent flanges of the assemblies bolted together, thebolts being extended through arcuate slots in one flange. Bias cutadjustment rings on a tube of the mast arm assembly are clamped betweenthe flanges whereby adjustably rotating one or both of the adjustmentrings and the signal unit flange, the signal units are plumbed. Thesignal unit assembly includes a box mounting member that is generallytriangular in plan and arms extending outwardly of said member to mountthe signal units.

Background of the invention The invention relates to apparatus formounting, adjustably positioning, and retaining a signal unit in anadjusted position to be vertical both in a vertical plane parallel tothe direction of oncoming traific and in a vertical plane perpendicularto the above mentioned vertical plane.

In prior art apparatus, for example, such as US. Patent No. 2,970,289 toLoomis, the signal unit may be adjusted to have its axis of elongationlocated in a vertical plane of the axis of elongation of the mast arm;but there is no suggestion in this patent of providing structure wherethe signal unit may be adjusted to also have its axis of elongationlocated in a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the vertical planeof the axis of elongation of the mast arm when such adjustment isnecessary or desirable.

Summary of the invention During the initial installation of a signalunit, or subsequent to the initial installation, the axis of the signalunit that preferably should extend vertical may be located out of thevertical line formed by the intersection of a pair of vertical planeswhere one vertical plane is perpendicular to the other. Afterinstallation, when the signal unit was initially installed to beproperly vertically aligned, due to high winds resulting in the mast armbending, or the mounting pole bending, or the mounting pole beinginclined to the vertical due to settling of the ground, the signal unitbecomes misaligned. In order to be able to easily mount a signal unit ina proper vertical alignment, and easily adjust a signal unit to aproperly vertical aligned condition, and overcome the above mentionedlimitation of the Loomis apparatus, this invention has been made. Thatis, with this invention, within a limited range, the angle of extensionof the signal unit mounting assembly relative the direction ofelongation of the mast arm may be adjusted between positions beingcoextensive therewith and extending in any desired direction that formsan acute angle with the axis of elongation of the mast arm.Additionally, the signal unit may be adjustably rotated a limited amountabout its central axis relative the mast arm without dismounting thesignal unit assembly from the mast arm assembly. Also, there has beenprovided a signal unit mounting member whereby a pair of signal unitsmay be easily mounted in horizontal spaced relationship.

3,478,994 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 ICC FIGURE 1 is a front view of thefirst embodiment of the apparatus of this invention, portions of thestandard and mast arm being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the plumbing apparatusof FIGURE 1, said view being generally taken along the line and in thedirection of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a still further enlarged fragmentary verticalcross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 2, said view beinggenerally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 33 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view gen erally taken along theline and in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIGURE 3 to more clearlyshow the mounting of the adjustment rings and the arcuate adjustmentslots of the mast arm flange;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view generally taken along theline and in the direction of the arrows 55 of FIGURE 2 to show thesignal unit mounting members, the closures for the mounting member andthe mounting member tube not being illustrated;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the adjustment rings in relativepositions whereby the signal light mounting member extends directlyoutwardly of the mast arm and coaxially therewith;

FIGURE 7 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 6 other than that theadjustment rings have been turned relative to one another to give amaximum deviation of the direction of extension of the signal lightmounting member relative the mast arm in one direction; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of a secondembodiment of the apparatus of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a mast that includes anupright standard 10, a mast arm assembly, generally designated 11, and abrace 12 connected to the standard and mast arm assembly. The mast armassembly includes a horizontally elongated, tubular mast arm 14 that atone end is welded to the standard. The mast arm may be polygonal orcircular or other desired shape in transverse cross-section. To theopposite end of the mast arm there is welded a flange 15 that has aplurality of arcuately elongated adjustment slots 16 (see FIGURE 4) andan aperture 15a that opens to the in terior of the mast arm. Welded tothe surface of the flange 15 opposite mast arm 14 to extend coaxiallyrelative the adjacent end portion of the arm is a short tube 17 that iscircular in transverse cross-section. The slots 16 are equally radiallyspaced from the central axis TT of the tube 17.

The signal light mounting assembly, generally designated 18, includes atube 20 that at one end has an annular flange 21 welded thereto, flange21 having a plurality of bolt receiving apertures 22 (see FIGURE 5) thatare equally radially spaced from the central axis M--M of the tube 20.The internal diameters of flange 21 and tube 20 are sufliciently greaterthan the outside diameter of tube 17 to permit the tube 20 extending,within a limited range, at selected various angles of inclination anddirections of extension relative the direction of extension of thecentral axis of tube 17 in a manner set forth hereinafter.

Welded to the tube 20 to extend axially outwardly therefrom in adirection opposite from flange 21 is a generally box shaped signal unitmounting member 23, mounting member 23 advantageously having top andbottom walls 23a that are generally triangular in plan view such asshown in FIGURE 2 and sidewalls 23b that diverge outwardly at equalangles relative the central axis MM of tube 20. As may be noted fromFIGURES 2 and 3, a rectangular cutout is provided in the central apexportion of walls 23 to have the tube 20' extend thereinto and in partopen into the interior of the mounting member, the inside and outsidediameters of the tube being greater than the vertical dimension betweenthe opposite outer surfaces of walls 23a. A closure member 27 isattached to each Wall 23a and the adjacent portion of tube 20 to blockpassage of foreign material from the ambivalent atmosphere into the tube20. Further, the edges of walls 23a, 23a, 23b, 23b are welded to theadjacent outer surface portions of tube 20.

Each of the corner portions of the mounting member 23 opposite tube 20is cut away at an angle to mount and have an arm open therein. The arms25 maybe rectangular tubular construction outwardly of the mountingmember 23 and have closed ends opposite member 23. Thus, arms 25 have asidewall 250 that extends coextensive with the adjacent sidewall 23b ofmember 23, and an opposite sidewall 25d having an edge forming a closefit with a plate 30 and top and bottom walls 25b that extend intomounting member 23 along the adjacent inner surface of the respectivewall 23a. Advantageously, each of the arms 25 extends outwardly from themounting member 23 at equal angles to the central axis of the tube 20and spaced therefrom. It is to be understood that the arm mountingcorner portions of member 23 may be cut at different angles, forexample, to permit the arms extending 180 relative one another, or bycutting away parts of walls 23b, to have the arms diverge in an oppositedirection from that illustrated.

The outer end portions of the arms 25 are provided with alignedapertures 25:: in top and bottom wall 25b to facilitate mounting thesignal units. Each signal unit may include one or more light boxesextending above respective arm 25 and one or more light boxes extendingbelow respective arm 25. Preferably the light boxes mounted on each armare aligned to extend perpendicular to the axis of elongation of therespective arm 25 and to the common plane of said axis of elongation andthe tube 20 axis M-M.

Adjacent each arm 25 and intermediate the arms 25 a mounting plate 30 iswelded to the walls 23:: adjacentthe edges thereof that extend betweenthe arms 25. A closure plate 31 is removably attached to plates 30 bycap screws 32 to close the access opening to the interior of the boxbetween said arms. By providing the closure 31, it may be removed andthe wiring (not shown) extending through the mast arm and tube 20 may beconnected in the mounting member 23 to the wiring (not shown) thatextends through the arms 25 from the signal unit. This facilitatesconnecting the wiring during the initial assembly and making repairs.

If only one signal unit is to be mounted on member 23, member 23 may bemodified by having an end Wall instead of closure 31 and the signal unitmounting arm joined to the end wall to open therethrough and extendoutwardly of the end wall in coaxially aligned with tube 20. In thiscase the openings in member 23 for arms 25 would be blocked.

Located on tube 17 intermediate flanges 15 and 21 are a pair ofadjustment rings 25, 26 that have the same in side and outsidediameters. The adjustment rings have annular, flat surfaces 25a and 26arespectively and axial opposed flat surfaces 25b and 26b respectively,that are of substantial thickness. As may be noted from FIGURES 6 and 7,the annular rings are cut on a bias whereby annular surface 26a isperpendicular to the central axis 8-8 of ring 26 and the plane ofsurface 26b is inclined to the aforementioned central axis. Likewise,the plane of surface 25a is perpendicular to the central axis RR of ring25 and the plane of the surface 25b is inclined relative the centralaxis of ring 25. Each of the rings is provided with a radially outwardlyopening aperture 28 into which a spanner wrench may be extended forangularly rotating the respective ring about tube 17. For retaining themast arm assembly and signal mounting assembly in a fixed adjustedposition, relative to one another with the adjustment rings betweenclamped flanges 15, 21, a plurality of nuts 27a and bolts 27 areprovided, the bolts being extended through apertures 22 and arcuateslots 16.

The flange 15 may be of various vertical shapes other than that shown inFIGURE 4 as long as it has a central opening, a flat surface to abutagainst substantially the entire annular surface of an adjustment ring,and bolt openings outwardly of the adjustment rings. The flange 15 isadvantageously provided with an opening 30 to have a safety chain (notshown) connected to said flange and to the signal unit.

Referring to FIGURE 8, the second embodiment of the invention includes amast arm 50 that is circular in transverse cross-section, only the endportion of the arm remote from standard being illustrated. A flange 51is welded to arm 50 inwardly from its terminal end. Assuming arm 50 isof the same diameter as tube 17, the rings 25, 26 and flange 21 areattached to flange 51 in the manner described with reference to thefirst embodiment, the terminal end portion of the mast arm outwardly offlange 51 being extended through said rings and into the tubular member20.

For purposes of simplifying the description of the invention, the wiringfor the signal units has not been described or illustrated. However,such wiring would extend through the mast arm, tubes 17, 20, member 23and arms 25.

In using the apparatus of this invention, it may be preassembled on theground and the standard 10 mount ed to have the mast arm extend over ahighway with the signal unit facing oncoming traflic together with anynecessary subsequent adjustments being described hereinafter being madefor plumbing the signal unit to extend vertically; or the standard 10mounted on the ground with the mast arm extending over the highway andthe unit 18 subsequently mounted on the support arm assembly 11. Forpurposes of facilitating the description of this invention, it will beassumed that the standard 10 is set in the ground with the mast armextending outwardly over the highway. Now, the adjustment rings 25, 26are positioned on tube 17 with the flat surface, for example surface 25aof ring 25 adjacent flange 15 and surfaces 25b, 26b adjacent oneanother. The signal unit support assembly 18 having the signal units 24mounted thereon is hoisted and moved to a position that the signal unitsextend generally vertically, i.e. central axis C-C of FIGURE 1 and C ofFIGURE 2 of said unit extends as near vertical as practical, and thetube 17 extends into flange 21 and tube 20. The bolts are extendedthrough the arcuate slots and the apertures in flange 21 and the nutsloosely threaded on the bolts. The adjustment rings 25, 26 are rotatedrelative one another (the inside diameters of the rings beingsufliciently larger than tube 17 to permit one ring being rotatedrelative the other in abutting engagement therewith) and to the flanges(if necessary) together with any necessary rotation of flange 21 aboutthe central axis of tube 17 such that the axis of elongation CC of eachsignal unit extends vertically both in a plane parallel to the directionof the oncoming traflic (vertical plane of line YY of FIGURE 2) and avertical plane perpendicular to the preceding mentioned vertical plane(vertical plane of line XX of FIGURE 2) whereby the axis CC of therespective signal unit is or as nearly as possible, considering theaccuracy of construction and assembly of members 20, 21, 23, 25,coextensive with the intersection of vertical planes of lines XX andY-Y. Then the nuts 27a are tightened whereby the adjustment rings 25, 26are clamped between the flanges in the adjusted position and the flange21 is prevented from being rotated relative to flange 15. If necessary,one or more nuts may be loosened and the adjustment rings or flange 21rotated relative to the tube 20 to bring the signal unit in the propervertical alignment provided that true vertical alignment was notobtained during the initial tightening of the nuts, and then the nutstightened.

Likewise, if the signal units have initially been aligned with thevertical, but for example due to settling of the earth the pole shifteda few degrees from the vertical, the nuts may be loosened and one ormore of the adjustment rings and/or the flange rotated again to bringthe signal units into vertical alignment (axis C-C coextensive with theintersection of the vertical planes of lines X-X and YY). Thus with theapparatus of this invention, the signal units may be easily plumbedduring the initial installation of the signal units; or subsequent tothe installation, the signal units may be readily plumbed in the mannerpreviously indicated. Further, tube 17 retains rings 25, 26 adjacentflange when the nuts 27a are loose and also aids in supporting thetubular end of assembly 18 (tube 20) in the event the assembly 18 isbeing mounted after the standard has been set in the ground at itsdesired location. Thus, the signal units may 'be more easily alignedthan if tube 20 were not provided.

As an example of the invention, but not otherwise as a limitationthereto, the following dimensions are given. Advantageously the shorttube 17 has an outside diameter of 2% inches, the tube 20 has an insidediameter of 2% inches, and the adjustment ring an inside diameter of 2inches and an outside diameter of 4- /8 inches. The angle of inclinationof the surfaces b, 26b respectively of the rings 25 and 26 isadvantageously 5 relative the central axis of the rings. With ringshaving such a 5 inclined surface, the direction of extension of axis MMrelative axis TT may be varied from 0-5 upwardly, downwardly, to theleft, to the right, and etc.

"What is claimed is:

1. For mounting a signal unit that preferably has an axis extendingvertically on a standard having a general horizontally extending mastarm, signal unit mounting apparatus comprising a first flange fixedlyjoined to said mast arm, a signal unit mounting member for mounting thesignal unit, said mounting member having an end portion, a second flangefixedly joined to said end portion, one of said flanges having angularlyspaced, arcuately elongated adjustment slots and the other havingangular spaced circular apertures, first means between said flanges foradjustably varying the angle of inclination of one flange relative theother within a limited range, and retaining the flanges in spacedrelationship, and second means for releasably connecting said flanges toretain the first means in the desired adjusted relationship between saidflanges, said second means comprising bolts extended through the slotsand circular apertures so that one flange may be angularly adjustedrelative the other flange, each bolt being extended through one of saidslots and one of said apertures and means on said bolts for releasablyretaining said flanges in condition to clamp the first means betweensaid flanges and thereby retain said first means and flanges in adesired adjusted relationship.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said firstmeans comprises a pair of rings each having an annular surface extendingsubstantially perpendicular to its central axis and an opposite surfaceinclined relative the annular surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the angle ofinclination of the opposite surface of each ring relative the respectivering central axis is the same, that one of said surfaces of one ringabuts against one flange, that one of said surfaces of the other ringabuts against the other flange and that the other of said surfaces ofsaid rings abut against one another.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that second flangehas a central opening, that a tube having a substantially smalleroutside diameter than the inside diameter of the rings is fixedlyattached to the first flange to extend generally coextensively with themast arm and is of an axial length to extend through said rings 6 andinto said opening when the second means connects said flanges.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the mountingmember includes a second tube having one end portion joined to saidsecond flange and a second end portion, and means for mounting a signalunit joined to said second end portion, said second tube being of asubstantially larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of thefirst mentioned tube, and the first mentioned tube being of a length toextend a substantial distance into the second tube when the second meansconnects said flanges.

6. For mounting a signal unit that has an axis that preferably isvertical on a standard having a pole and a generally horizontallyextending mast arm, said mast arm having a terminal end portion, signalunit mounting apparatus comprising a signal unit mounting member havingan end portion, a pair of adjustment rings each having a central axis, agenerally annular surface inclined at an acute angle relative itscentral axis and an opposite annular surface, and means for beingfixedly attached to each of said end portions to clamp the rings withone of said ring surfaces in abutting relationship with one of saidsurfaces of the other ring in selected adjusted angular positionsadjacent said end portions and intermediate the mounting member endportion and the pole, and mountingly connecting the signal unit mountingmember to the mast arm end portion to permit limited adjustment of thedirection of the angle of extension of the mounting member relative themast arm through angular adjustment of at least one ring.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that said mountingmember end portion has an opening and that said .means includes atubular member having a first end portion and being of a substantiallysmaller diameter than the inside diameter of said rings to extendthrough said rings and into the mounting member opening and means forfixedly joining said tubular member to the mast arm end portion toextend away therefrom.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that said meansincludes a first flange fixedly attached to said terminal end portion, asecond flange attached to said mounting member end portion and means forreleasably connecting said flanges to clampingly retain said ringsbetween said flanges.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that said firstflange has a circular opening, that said mast arm has a circular outersurface, said mast arm extending through said flange opening and intosaid mounting member end portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that said flangeshave circumferentially spaced bolt openings, the flange bolt openings ofone flange being arcuately elongated and the bolt openings of the otherflange being circular, and that the last mentioned means includes boltsextended through the bolt openings of said flanges, said bolt openingsbeing about equally radially spaced from the central axis of the mastarm and means on said bolts for holding the flanges together.

11. Apparatus for mounting a unit having a given axis and permittingadjustably positioning said unit to mount the unit to have the aboveaxis vertically comprising a standard having an outwardly extending mastarm, said mast arm having a central axis and a terminal end portion, afirst flange fixedly mounted on said terminal end portion and having acentral opening coaxial with said mast arm central axis, an axiallyelongated tube having a first end portion fixedly joined to said firstflange to extend coaxially relative said mast arm axis, a unit mountingmember having a central axis and a hollow end portion of a larger insidediameter than the outside diameter of said tube with its axis extendedthrough said first end portion, a second flange fixedly connected tosaid mounting member end portion, said second flange having a centralopening coaxially aligned with the mounting member axis, a pair ofadjustment rings each having an inside diameter larger than the outsidediameter of said tube positioned on said tube intermediate said flanges,each ring having a generally flat surface axially opposite to itscentral axis and an inclined surface axially opposite its flat surfacethat is inclined relative the respective ring central axis, and meansfor .mountingly connecting the flanges together in selected adjusted,relative angular positions within a limited range to clampingly retainthe rings in selected adjusted angular position between the flanges toretain the mounting member axis in the selected adjusted angularrelationship relative the mast arm axis to permit plumbing the unit Whenit is mounted on said mounting member.

12. For mounting a signal unit that has an axis that is preferablyvertical on a standard having a pole, a signal unit mounting memberhaving a first tubular end portion, a first flange fixedly joined to thefirst tubular end portion, a pair of adjustment rings each having acentral axis and a generally annular surface inclined at an acute anglerelative its central axis, a mast arm portion for being joined to thepole to extend generally horizontally, a second tubular portion having afirst end portion, an intermediate portion extended through said ringsand a second end portion within said first tubular end portion, andmeans including a second flange for fixedly joining said second tubularportion first end portion to the mast arm portion and releasablyconnecting the first flange to the mast arm portion to permit limitedadjustment of the direction of the angle of extension of the mountingmember relative the mast arm portion through angular adjustment of atleast one ring and clamp said rings in an adjusted position between saidflanges, said second flange being fixedly secured to the mast armportion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 656,314 8/1900 Beerbower.

931,914 8/1909 Connor 285-181 960,899 6/1910 Guyer 285-481 2,928,6413/1960 Pfafi 248221 2,970,289 1/1960 Loomis 248274 X FOREIGN PATENTS139,997 1903 Germany.

554,218 1957 Italy.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PO-HJSU CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3 478 994 Dated 11 -h gr 1 l 1 a i 2 Inventor(s) Neil E. Rvall It: iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 71, after "that (first occurrence), insert "said- Column7, line 4, "axially opposite" should bee-perpendicular".

SIGNED AND SEALED MAR 01970 L) Awesu EdwardMFletch WILLIAM E. sueumm,.m. Atwslmg Q Oomissioner of Patents

